FDA and Bottled Water

There are so many different brands and types of bottled water lined up on the shelf when you go into the store. Is there a difference between all these bottles of water? How do you know which to choose and, more importantly, how do you know that you’re actually getting what’s advertised? There are occasionally concerns over the safety of bottled water and the question of whether it’s simply bottled tap water. But bottled water is regulated by the FDA (The United States Food and Drug Administration) just like other drinks, so let’s look at how this is controlled.

Bottled water regulations

According to the FDA website, the administration regulates bottled water under at least three different categories:

  • Standard of identity
  • Standard of quality
  • Current good manufacturing practice

These categories ensure that bottled water that’s available for purchase does not contain an excess of contaminants and is, therefore, safe for consumption, and also that the bottled water has been produced safely and under sanitary conditions.

What is in your bottled water?

Bottled water can come from a number of sources, including springs, wells, underground sources, and, yes, even the tap, i.e., municipal sources. However, it’s still not the same as the water poured directly from your tap as it will be treated in various ways before being bottled and reaching the shelves.

Under the FDA’s regulations, nothing can be added to bottled water other than a safe amount of antimicrobial agent for treating the water, and fluoride within safe limits as set out by the FDA. Depending on the source of your water, it will naturally contain trace amounts of various minerals, which can benefit your health in a number of ways. The exception is purified water, which has had all of these trace elements and minerals filtered out.

Any harmful contaminants reaching certain levels will ensure that the water does not meet the FDA’s standards, which follow the standards suggested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) where relevant. To achieve all of this, the water itself is tested and analyzed, and bottling plants are also regularly inspected to ensure that their practices and equipment are safe.

At Mountain Park Spring Water we deliver both spring water and purified water to your home or office, plus a range of water dispensers, filters, and accessories. Get in touch to find out more about our water and our services around North Carolina and Virginia.